Suddenly, at half past ten o'clock, on the evening of July 23, Dr.
Constantine Hering departed this life in the
eighty-first year of his age.

During the past decade the doctor has at times suffered quite severely
from asthma, though for several years past the attacks have been less
severe, so that he has been enabled to attend almost daily upon a large
circle of patients.

Having spent the early part of the evening of his decease with his
family, he retired to his study shortly after eight o'clock, seemingly
stronger and more cheery than for some weeks past.

Just before ten o'clock he rang for his wife, who,
immediately answering, found him suffering from extreme dyspnoea, but
perfectly rational.

He asked for his old friend and physician, Dr Charles G. Raue, who was immediately sent for ; at the same
time, Dr- A- W. Koch also, an old and esteemed friend
neighbor, was summoned ; but before help could be offered the spirit had
departed.

Dr Charles Gottleib Raue (1820-1896)

Not unexpected, nor yet unprepared for, was the call. To one in
attendance he remarked, "Now I am dying."

Many times during previous illness did his friends despair of his life,
but hefelt his time had not vet come.

Now he knew that a change was indeed coming. That undaunted spirit,
which for more than fourscore years animated the living day, was about to
leave its abode for realms alcove.

Thus departed one to whom Homoeopathy in

America - yea, in the whole world - will ever remain a debtor.

Though called in the ripeness of old age, his death, nevertheless,
falls like a heavy pall over the entire profession.

We havebeen called to mourn the departure of others whose
names we must ever revere ; but with the death of

Hering is broken a connecting link which bound the
present to the past, the established triumphant homoeopathy of our own day
to the early struggles and sacrifices of its pioneers.

East, West, North

,
and South, Europe and America, have among their busy practitioners many who look toward
the home of this truly great man as toward the home of a father. Hundreds
have shared with him of tire wondrous store of knowledge which he
possessed.

Many came ; none were sent empty away. Their capacity to receive,
rather than in his willingness to give limited the amount bestowed.
Blessings will ever attend name.

Constantine

Hering was born at Oschatz, Saxony, on Jan. 1. 1800. From earliest childhood he evinced an extreme
desire to investigate all things.

Apt as a scholar, he soon mastered the preliminary studies, and was
prepared at an early age to enter the

Classical School at Zittau. Here he continued his studies from
1811 to 1817.

Even thus early in life he evinced an aptness for study and an
accumulation of knowledge far beyond his years. Besides his familiarity
with the classics, his proficiency in mathematics was truly surprising.

While thus employed his mind was turned toward medicine, and when
opportunity offered he pursued his studies in that direction, first at the

Surgical Academy of
Dresden, and later at
the University of Leipzig. In the latter institution he was a
pupil of the eminent surgeon, Robbi.

About this time his preceptor was requested to write all article
against Homoeopathy - one which might prove its death-blow.

Dr.

Robbi declined for want of time, but
recommended his young assistant, Hering,
who, quite pleased with this mark of confidence, began the work ; but
meeting much in the writings of Hahnemann which was new to him, and finally reading the expression,
" Machts nach,
aber machts recht nach," he determined on personal investigation in order
that he might the more positively refute the points which Hahnemann had set before the profession.

Constantine Hering

Calling upon an acquaintance, a druggist of

Leipzig, for some Cinchona,
he was met by the
friendly inquiry,

"For what do you want it ?"

To this he answered,

"
For the purpose of proving it, in order the more thoroughly to attack the
new folly, '' To this
the druggist replied,

" Let it alone,

Hering ; you are stepping on dangerous
ground."

Hering's

answer was
that he feared not the truth.

And the result was, the pamphlet was not written, and Homoeopathy
gained an able champion.

Subsequently, while
still pursuing his medical studies, Hering
received a dissecting-wound, which, under the treatment of his teachers,
reached such a degree of severity that amputation of the hand was advised.

At the suggestion of a friend who was a student of Hahnemann's, the efficacy of the potentized drug was tried,
the result being a complete cure of the wound and a thorough conversion of
Hering.

So thoroughly was he convinced that the law of cure had indeed been
discovered, that he staked thereon even his success at the University. His
inaugural thesis, "De
Medicina Futura,"
contained a forcible and unflinching defense of the law of cure.

He completed his medical. studies, and received the degree of Doctor of
Medicine from the University of Wurzburg,
March 23, 1826.

Soon after his graduation he was appointed by the king of

Saxony to accompany the Saxon legation to Dutch Guiana, there to make scientific research and prepare a
zoological collection for his government.

He continued in this capacity for some years, but his love for the new
truth which he had learned impelled him to further study, and finally to
the practice of medicine according to

Hahnemann's doctrines.

Such was his success that he gained great favor with the governor of
the province, whose daughter he cured of an affection which the resident
physicians had declared incurable.

During his residence at Surinam he was an occasional contributor to the

Homoeopathic
Archives,for which journal he had written as
early as 1825, while still a student of medicine.

The court physician, learning of this, wrought upon the king
sufficiently to cause a notice to be sent

Hering, directing him to attend to the duties of his
appointment, and let medical matters alone.

Dr. George Henry Bute (1792-1876)

His independent nature rebelled at such intolerance, and led him
promptly to resign his appointment.

Dr. George H.

Bute, formerly a Moravian missionary at Surinam,
and a pupil of Hering, had settled in Philadelphia, and was engaged in the practice of
Homoeopathy.

Dr.

Hering continued in practice at Paramaribo for a short time after his resignation.

Learning, however, from Dr.

Bute
that Philadelphia offered a good field ; Hering left Paramaribo, and landed at Philadelphia, January, 1833.

Here he remained for a short season, when he was induced by Dr. W.

Wesselhoeft to assist in the establishment of a homoeopathic
school at Allentown, the North American Academy of the Homoeopathic
Healing Art.

He labored in this field until financial embarrassments necessitated
the abandonment of the institution.

This led to his return to

Philadelphia, where he engaged in practice with Dr. Bute, locating on Vine
street, below Fourth.

Here he soon acquired a large and lucrative practice. The wide scope of
his education naturally offered a ready introduction to scientific and
literary circles, while the active interest which he took in our
republican form of government led to an acquaintance with many persons of
political prominence.

Among these may be mentioned Henry

Clay,
who, as a patient and friend, highly appreciated the services rendered by
Dr. Hering, as witness the following extract
from a letter dated Dec. 14, 1849 :

"Your liberal kindness toward me would not allow you to indulge me
in the gratification of testifying my gratitude to you for the successful
exercise of your professional skill on me, on two distinct occasions, by
the customary compensation ; but you cannot prevent the expression of my
great obligation to you for the benefit I derived from your obliging
prescriptions.

I thank you for them most cordially . . . With great regard, I am your
friend and obedient servant,

" H.

Clay."

Agassiz, Carey

, and
a host of others, distinguished in politics, art, and science, were among
his friends.

Always a student, endowed with indomitable will and untiring industry,
he seemed to infuse every one with whom he came in contact with the spirit
of work. "

Change
of occupation is rest," was his oft repeated expression.

Though conducting a large practice, he found time to write much, and to
superintend the work of many younger and less experienced.

His Saturday-night meeting, held for the instruction of students and
young practitioners, were prized as a boon.

Here he imparted golden truths, reaped from fields of ripe experience
such as but few have enjoyed.

" Rise and Progress of Homoeopathy ; " a pamphlet,
Philadelphia, 1834, afterwards translated into the Dutch and Swedish
languages.

" Necessity and Benefits of Homoeopathy ;" a pamphlet, 1835.

" Domestic Physician," published in 1835. This work passed
through fourteen editions in America, two in England, and thirteen in
Germany, and has also been translated into the French, Spanish, Italian,
Danish, Hungarian, Russian, and Swedish languages.

" The Effects of Snake Poison," 1837.

" Homoeopathic Hatchels," 1845.

" Proposals to Kill Homoeopathy ;" a satire, 1846.

"Suggestions for the Provings of Drugs," 1853.

" Amerikanische Arzneiprüfungen," 1853-57.

Translations of Gross's " Comparative Materia Medica," 1866.

" Analytical Therapeutics," the first volume only, issued,
1875.

" Condensed Materia Medica," two editions, 1877-79.

" Guiding Symptoms," the third volume of which he completed
just prior to his death.

In addition to these may be mentioned his editorial work connected with
the

Homoeopathic
News, 1854, and the American Journal of Homoeopathic Materia Medica, 1867-71, besides many miscellaneous writings scattered
through the various journals of it school. It may further he added that he
assisted in the translation of Jahr's Manual, Allentown Edition, 1838

Dr.

Hering was a member of the Academy of
Natural Sciences Philadelphia, to which institution he presented
his large zoological collections.

He was one of the founders of the American Institute of Homoeopathy,
and for many years continued in active relationship with it as well as
with the State and county societies.

He was one of the originators of the American 'rovers' Union,
instituted Aug. 10.

1853.

He was also one of the founders and a member of the first faculty of
the Homoeopathic Medical College of

Pennsylvania, continuing in this relationship at intervals until 1867, when he assisted in founding the Hahnemann
Medical College of Philadelphia in which he held the Chair of
Institutes and Materia Medica, being Emeritus of the same at the time of
his death.

It would be difficult to give a proper estimate of Dr. Hering's
character and of his influence upon medical science.

His acts are matters of medical history, and the impress of his thought
is already made, deep in the medical practice of our age.

It s not possible that the memory of his career is one which posterity
will willingly set die ; for the coming ages, even more than the present
will learn to depend upon

LAWas the great governing actor in the
production of the fact of natural science, therapeutics included.

And so, as Homoeopathy must become more and more the one only
acknowledged therapeutic principle, the brightest names that posterity
will cherish will be those who have done so much to establish it among
men. while among the most brilliant of- them all will stand the
name of -